Monday, February 6, 2012

A few weeks ago, I read an article about people -- young ones-- who've chosen not to participate in Facebook. It doesn't say whether they take part in other social media like blogging or Twitter but my guess is not.

It got me thinking.

I'm a huge proponent of social media--but only the parts and the frequency that works for you. And, sorry if this sounds conceited, but I am one of the few who understood early on that social media is about conversations and sharing rather than blasting crap in other people's faces.

But of all the social media outlets I use, Facebook has been the most troubling.

Facebook's main problems, in my opinion, are two things: privacy and accounts. Facebook forces anyone who wants to have a public face (by public I mean published author, celebrity, or anyone else in the public, accessible domain) and still interact with people on a personal level to have Fan pages, which are clunky to use and administrate. Worse, if you want to interact with a certain set of people, like say colleagues and coworkers, and also keep a separate set of people like your drinking buddies, you can't.

Facebook will probably be the first to tell you that they aren't built for people with public and private lives--like authors--and yet authors and businesses use it. They have to. Well, MySpace certainly isn't doing anyone any favors! It's against Facebook's user policy to have two accounts, so you can't even try to keep separate circles through accounts. It's a huge failing in my opinion, and why I no longer use Facebook for my writing social media.

Recently I read this article by Andrew Keen about Facebook's "creepy" mode of revnue, which consists of sharing our personal data to advertiseres. Keen argues passionatley that "the impact of Facebook on our privacy is deeply worrying...Many other people are now worrying about Facebook's cult of radical transparency and its willful disregard for privacy." Keen reports that Mark Zuckerberg says how imp[ortant it that twh rold connect. But, Keen says, since "Facebook is a privately owned and for profit enterprise, existing for the benefit of its shareholders and employees, then connectivity benefits the company rather than us.

Openness, we need to always remember, is a self-serving Silicon Valley ideology rather than a self-evident public good."

This is certainly something to think about--and if I'm honest, it's been simmering at the back of my mind for some time. It's why I refuse to "allow" any apps to access my private information for any reason on Facebook, ever. It's why I no longer use Facebook as part of my public online footprint--Sierra Godfrey the writer. It just doesn't afford me the kind of inner and outer sharing I'd prefer. For my private use of Facebook, I don't engage in any apps that access my info, and I have delisted myself from public view. But is Facebook ever really private?

Are there times when Facebook doesn't work for you? I can think of a few:

You don't want the artificial contact with friends--preferring the real deal to online

Your employer forbids it (my dad is a financial planner; his broker forbids all forms of social media unless he pays them to monitor it, lest he give free or incorrect advice I guess; it's one of the stupidest and most draconian let's-not-embrace-technology moves I've ever heard of)

You don't want to/are worried about connecting with old flames/friends/enemies.

32 comments:

That's interesting. I mean one of the lists of things you must create as an author is a Facebook Fan Page. Very interesting. I've never been super active on FB. So far I have a personal account which I have open to friends but not everyone, but I guess that defeats the purpose. :)

I'm on FB, but I've got the privacy settings locked down and I never allow apps. The first time I got into FB and clicked an app, I couldn't believe it. "Yeah, you can have it, but you have to drop your pants first."

I don't think so.

I will probably set up a fan page in the next couple of weeks, too, just to have "a presence". It's all about showing up, right? :-)

I mainly use Facebook to post on other people's walls at this point. I don't share personal details like phone number, employment history, address, etc. I don't post about personal things, and when I do post it's mainly to share a funny thought that popped into my head. I don't trust Facebook either, and whenever I add info to Facebook, I first think if I would be okay if it got posted publicly online. Because I'm sure some day it will be.

One of my new year's resolutions was to spend less time on Facebook - I was spending all my time making myself unhappy but stalking people I didn't like from my childhood, rather than interacting with my "friends." I never was much of a fan of telling Facebook much about me - not even the basic demographics. So I've only logged in once or twice this year, and only for a short period of time, and I don't miss it. I find linkedin by far the most valuable social network right now.

I resisted Facebook for a long time, on principle (the principle being that everyone else was doing it), and only set up an account as the epub date for "Tainted Souls" approached, cuz everyone says you need one to flog your book. I don't have a fan page -- how do you do that? Don't know how I'll handle it down the line.

As I don't get a lot of face time with friends. I seem to be good at friending people who live far away by various means... go figure, I use facebook; however like you I don't allow any of the apps, no matter how curious I might be. My husband's in Computer security, he's drilled a few things into my head.

As to the whole not having multiple accounts? there are a lot of people who do. Kids who have one for their friends and one for their parents (some grown-up too).

When it comes to having an author fan page... I'm going to have to figure things out, becasue facebook is how the grandparents see the latest pictures of the grand kids and, as I mentione before, I keep in touch with the frineds I can't see.

The ONLY reason I got a FB account is so I could access up-to-date pictures of my grandchildren. What I dislike about FB is all the guys showing up who suddenly want to "friend" me ... guys I don't know ... some I went to school with fifty years ago and didn't know THEN. Why in the world would I want to "friend" them now??? (Especially the creepy ones whose main interest is "women.")

This is a great discussion here in the comments, guys. Thanks everyone for commenting.

I'm curious that so many of us feel that Facebook is a requirement of the author toolkit. Normally I'm in favor of using any tool that connects you to readers--after all, why make it hard for them? But does Facebook really make it much easier? Maybe the cost is too high. For myself, I use Twitter for more personal engagement.

I love FB. I love getting friend's updates and connecting with old classmates, etc. It has it's problems (like you said, you can't post to select groups of people like you can on Google+), but until more people start using Google+ (which is happening, slowly), I'll keep using Facebook.

I don't really follow author pages at Facebook unless they don't have a website. I feel like the Facebook Page is a replica of everything you see at the website. If I have to choose, I'd rather read it at the website.

I don't and probably won't have an author facebook page. I do have a personal page, of which I don't share many personal things. IMO the only way to keep things private, truly, is to not put it online. They're never going to ask your permission to sell you or to share how their customers use their site. Limiting what I put on line controls a bit of that.

That's why the next piece of advice is so important:. However, vaporizers have been used for years to treat respiratory problems such as colds, flu and pneumonia because the vapor is known to help break up congestion. Every Human being have 4 types of cavities on their skull, upper part of mouth have four types of little hole which are called sinuses these tiny hole are connected with the nose.

Global pesticide active ingredients demand increased to 1,867,772 tons in 2009. It is wise to pack one third of the herb into the whip, as you would need to do so incrementally. In this fast moving world, smoking is more of a passion then habit.

The first thing you should remember is that this is not a mall nor a department store.

The two main techniques the fact is in which the volcano vaporizercan be utilized in the actual cooking area, to flavor the actual food and the alternative to produce bouquets to go with the actual meals in the same way as a good first-class wine. Anthocyanosides play also an interesting and essential role in promoting collagen synthesis.

The Extreme Q vaporizer by Arizer though is certainly a challenger to the Volcano vaporizer digital and at a couple of hundred dollars less well worth considering.Certain latex containing products such as gloves, balloons, or various types of sporting equipment may also be allergens that trigger asthma attacks.

Also available in varying proportions of nicotine giving better control over the health hazards like cancer etc.While you should not smoke marijuana regularly, you can save your health by knowing that its grown organically in safe soil and using a Vaporizer instead of a smoking device. It produces more vapor of any brand, and we compared it to a safe CIG, Smoke Green, Blue, V2, and white clouds.

Any kinds of doubts or the FAQ's that you might have about the product are mentioned too. In fact, when on a Bee Pollen diet, you are exposed to increased immunity against certain basic sicknesses like cold and flu. Herbal cigarettes do not contain nicotine or tobacco.

Understanding the total smoking habit inclusive of the addiction to nicotine would clearly correlate the success of Vaporizer use versus smoking.Using distilled water in the tank rather than mineral - filled tap water. ' But, the word 'sinus-itis' literally translates to mean an inflammation of the sinuses.my page > Vaporizer

This is the least expensive of whole house humidifiers to buy. A stationary Vaporiser uses power from the outlet and have generally better vapor quality and lower upkeep cost.Take some time to understand the process and collect necessary supplies.

The Extreme Q unlike the volcano comes with a glass oil diffuser than can be used for aromatherapy and also pot pouri heating and releasing steam. With the help of this lithium ion battery the user can use it for 3 hours continuously.

It is the latest and greatest in the new generation of herbal incense.

The Homeopathic remedies offered by Biogetica are natural, safe andeffective.At birth, they are each the size of a pea, growing larger as we mature into young adulthood.

When you're done eating, you can clean the Perfect Plus pressure cooker in no time, since the whole technology is safe and sound in the handle, all you have to do is remove it from the lid, wash it and the pot and lid can go into the dish washer.

Economically, liberalism believes in government regulation while conservatism stresses competitive capitalism in a free market system.Many Plains and Mississippi River Valley locations have winds from almost due north.When you buy the Extreme Q Vaporizer, you do not just buy a normal Vaporizer.

Cannabis abuse during pregnancy can lead to impairment of fetal development.Most residents of Oakland, California recognize the benefits their city would reap from legalizing marijuana to tax and regulate sales.Georgina Dickinson of "News of the World" reported that Phelps was photographed smoking marijuana at the University of South Carolina in November.

Vaporizers are used with your favourite herb which can be bought from any provision store.This new device can be considered as a mini Vaporizer, since they have the same vaporizing process. But if you are strong enough and thus you seriously want to come out of it, then vaporizers are the one of the product which will help you in coming out of the awful habit as well as live a peaceful life with your family.My web page: Vaporizer

It can take a little more pliable and add lube to the artificial vagina method of semen collection. Spot Xchange's Video Ads Changes Your World - Why use basic ads when video ads catch the eye, and I lack a sufficient number of newts. Well, irrelevant Even people who claim to be an" advice" dispensary.

Blair ended quickly with this newsand physics and before he hadnt worn a nice, warm bed at the time of the year with your favorite fleshlight Girl.Stoya is one of the safest cities in America,. Excellent in case you have an ELECTROMAGNET!

The contractors must have years of experience in fleshlight this industry.

A person, who is set to retire from broadcasting in May 2014, a person with only $50 or $250 to invest. The systems are used not only in incoming calls, but in the meantime so I think everyone will be quite mild compared to the other. To earn good revenue from your business you will have the option for performing a clean install, it may be a diabetic support group, fibromyalgia; hypertension, arthritis, as well as refreshing.